Guy de Maupassant
An Affair of State
Paris had just heard of the disaster of Sedan. The mayor of Canneville induced sixty-three men to volunteer in defense of their country. On the morning of the fifth of September, Dr Massarel gave...
A Coward
Society called him Handsome Signoles, and after the performance he invited two ladies friends to take ices at Tortoni's. The Viscount walked for several minutes up and down his room before deciding...
My Uncle Jules
A poor family set their hopes on the return of a previously good-for-nothing uncle who left for America to seek his fortune.
Mademoiselle Fifi
A group of bored Prussian soldiers amuse themselves destructively while holed up in a French chateau.
Ghosts
A young man's suspicions are aroused when he finds out his dead mother is appearing to his father, threatening eternal damnation unless the
The Horla
Creeping paranoia becomes something altogether more sinister, but is it madness or has he discovered a plot that threatens humanity.
The Inn
When one of the winter caretakers of an isolated mountain inn goes missing, loneliness beings to take its toll on the other.
A Piece of String
A man picks up a piece of string, an act which unfortunately coincides with the loss of a mayor's pocket book.
An Uncomfortable Bed
A man is certain his friends are about to play a practical joke on him ...
Fear
A man describes the most frightening night of his life.
The Necklace
A poor woman borrows a necklace from a rich friend. Classic twisty tale.
The Devil
An avaricious farmer makes arangements to have his dying mother looked after so he can get his crop in.